Motorized drum roller with stationary ends

ABSTRACT

A motorized conveyor roller having a rotatable portion and at least one stationary end.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to motorized conveyor rollers and particularlyrelates to a motorized conveyor roller having a rotatable portiondisposed between two opposite stationary ends. The invention alsorelates to the method of barring access to a motorized rotatableconveyor roller for driving a conveyor medium by disposing the motorizedrotatable conveyor rollers between opposed generally cylindricalstationary ends.

BACKGROUND ART

A variety of conveyor roller systems have heretofore been designed andutilized. A large variety of known conveyor roller systems comprise acontinuous belt or conveyor medium which travels over a series ofrollers. The rollers can be simple shafts on which may be mountedvarious forms of sprockets or drive means for supporting the conveyormedium. Some advanced conveyor systems utilize enclosed and sealed driverollers with the drive motors contained inside the rollers themselves.

An example of such motorized conveyor roller is disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,088,596 which teaches a motorized conveyor roller mounted in aconveyer frame to support and propel articles from one end of theconveyor path towards the opposite end. The conveyer roller includes aroller tube rotatably mounted in the conveyor frame and drive meanscontained inside the roller tube for driving the roller tube. The drivemeans includes a motor, a gear reducer assembly operatively connected tothe motor, and a drive member connected to the outward shaft of thespeed reducer for engaging and rotating the roller tube.

Furthermore there has been a concern by some to improve the safetyfeatures of conveyor rollers and particularly motorized conveyorrollers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,799 illustrates a brake devicefor a conveyor having two load supporting conveyor rollers rotatable toengage a load thereon to be transported along the conveyor. The loadsupporting rollers are movably transversely to their axis of rotation bya load passing there over against a resilient bias into engagement witha brake roller adapted to brake rotation of the conveyor rollers.

Moreover U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,184 illustrates a safety shutdown systemfor luggage conveyor systems.

Furthermore U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,528 teaches a conveyor roller.

There is, however, a need to improve the safety features of motorizedconveyor rollers.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improvedmotorized conveyor roller and method thereof.

It is an aspect of this invention to provide a motorized conveyor rollerhaving a rotatable portion and at least one stationary end.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is a further aspect of this invention to provide a motorized conveyorroller for supporting and driving a conveyor medium comprising a hollowdrum defining a rotatable supporting surface having a cylindrical shapedisposed between said first and second generally cylindrical stationaryends; said first and second generally cylindrical stationary endsco-axially mounted to first and second spaced apart stationary shaftsrespectively; one end of each of said stationary shafts disposedinternally of said hollow drum for carrying drive means for rotatingsaid hollow drum between said generally cylindrical stationary ends.

It is yet a further aspect of this invention to provide a method ofbarring access to a motorized rotatable conveyor roller for driving aconveyor medium by disposing said motorized rotatable conveyor rollerbetween opposed generally cylindrical stationary ends.

These and other objects and features of the invention shall now bedescribed in relation to the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a full cross-sectional view of a motorized conveyor roller.

FIG. 2 is an end view of FIG. 1.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the description, which follows, like parts are marked throughout thespecification and the drawings with the same respective referencenumerals. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and in someinstances proportions may have been exaggerated in order to more clearlydepict certain features of the invention.

FIG. 1 generally illustrates the motorized conveyor roller 60 having arotatable portion 1. The rotatable portion 1 comprises a hollow drum orshell 1 disposed between a first generally cylindrical stationary end 54and a second generally cylindrical stationary end 55. The first andsecond cylindrical stationary ends 54 and 55 define two oppositestationary ends 54 and 55.

The rotatable portion 1 comprises a rotatable displaceable roller tubeas shown. The roller tube 1 includes a motor generally depicted as 62.The motor comprises a stator 13 and rotor 14. The rotor 14 defines arotatable shaft 63 which is received by ball bearings 37 and 37A forrotation thereabouts.

More specifically each of the stationary ends 54 and 55 are co-axiallydisposed about a first stationary shaft 64 and a second stationary shaft65 as shown in FIG. 1. First and second stationary shafts 64 and 65 areco-axially disposed with rotatable shaft 63 about an axis X. Firststationary shaft 64, second stationary shaft 65 and rotatable shaft 63define a central axis X.

In other words the first and second spaced stationary shafts 64 and 65carry the two stationary ends 54 and 55 respectively. Each of thestationary ends present a generally cylindrical surface 74 and 75presenting an outer diameter D₁, D₂ respectively. Furthermore each ofthe first and second stationary ends 54 and 55 are secured to thestationary shafts 64 and 65 by a variety of means including socketheadset screws 58 located in set screw holes 76 and 78 as shown.Alternate securing means can be used to secure the first and secondstationary ends 54 and 55 to the stationary shafts 64 and 65 such askeyways, friction fit splines, adhesive and the like.

Furthermore the rotatable shaft 63 is carried by the motor 62.

The hollow drum 1 defines a rotatable supporting surface having thecylindrical shape as shown disposed between the first and secondgenerally cylindrical stationary ends 54 and 55. One end 80 and 81 ofeach of the stationary shafts 64 and 65 respectively are disposedinternally of the hollow drum 1 for carrying the drive means whichconsists of the motor 62 for rotating the hollow drum 1 between thegenerally cylindrical stationary ends 54 and 55.

More specifically the second shaft 65 comprises a hollow shaft 7 havinga cable passage 16 for receiving an electrical cable electricallyconnected to the motor 62 as shown. One end of the hollow drum 1includes an end flange 2A while the other end of the hollow drum 1includes end flange 2B. Both end flanges 2A and 2B are press fit orconnected to the outer shell of the hollow drum 1.

End flange 2A includes a double seal adapter 45DS and oil seal 46 aswell as bearing rings 45. Furthermore ball bearings 36 are alsoassociated with end flange 2A.

Moreover end flange 2B includes ball bearings 36, a mounting ring 5 andspring ring 19. A filler plug 34 and washer 35 are also disclosed. Asocket head cap screw 31 is utilized to secure the end flange 2B to themounting ring 5 and spring ring 19 together. Furthermore bearing race 45and oil seal 46 with bearings 56 are shown.

The other ends 90 and 91 of stationary shafts 64 and 65 have across-section which permits the other ends 90 and 91 of the first andsecond stationary shafts 64 and 65 to be held by a shaft holder on thelike that will register with the square cross-section for positivesecurement. In FIG. 2 the other end 90 and 91 presents a generallysquare cross-section so as to prevent rotation of the stationary shafts64 and 65. The other end 91 of second stationary shaft 65 illustrates aPG9 connector 53.

Moreover one end 80 of fixed shaft 64 presents a gear housing 3. One end81 of the second shaft 65 presents a motor flange 4. Furthermore lockingdisk 41 is disposed in the vicinity of the motor flange 4. Each of thegear housing 3 and motor flange 4 present ball bearings 37A and 37Brespectively which permit free rotation of the rotor or rotational shaft14. The ends of gear housing 3 and motor flange 4 present securing means17 to secure the stator 13 thereto as shown. More specifically thesecuring means 17 comprises in one example socket head cap screws asshown.

The rotatable shaft 63 which defines the rotor 14 has at one end thereofa pinion 93 for rotational engagement with gear 11. Gear 11 is press fitto second pinion 9 which rotationally engages internal gear 8. Theinternal gear 8 is presented by end flange 2A thereby causing the hollowshell 1 to rotate about the stator 13. The assembly further includes adistance ring 12 as shown. Moreover snap ring 44, ball bearings 38 andsnap ring 43 are shown.

The outer surface 95 of hollow drum 1 presents an outer diameter D₃which is slightly greater than the diameter of each of the generallycylindrical stationary ends D₁ and D₂. Therefore a conveyor medium (notshown) will be driven by the outer surface 95 of the rotatable portion 1rather than the outer surface 74 and 75 of first and second stationaryends 54 and 55, since outer surface 95 is slightly raised. Furthermorethe outer surface 95 can include any variety of means to increase theco-efficient of friction between the outer surface 95 and the conveyormedium such as for example by knurling or machining a spiral at each endtoward the center or by covering the outer surface 95 with rubber.

Furthermore the gear 11, second pinion 9 and internal gear 8 define gearmeans which is driven by the first pinion 93.

The invention described herein defines a method of barring access to amotorized rotatable conveyor roller 1 which drives a conveyor medium bydisposing the motorized rotatable conveyor roller 1 between opposedgenerally cylindrical stationary ends 54 and 55.

Accordingly if someone near the conveyor system accidentally touches theend of the motorized conveyor roller 60, they will come into contactwith the stationary ends 54 and 55 thereby preventing any damage whichmay otherwise occur where a person would come in contact with rotatingparts which may cause physical damage or catch any loose clothingdrawing a person into the system.

Furthermore the invention described herein can be utilized to retrofitexisting motorized conveyor rollers having one end 90 and 91 of firstand second stationary shafts 64 and 65 which are long enough toaccommodate the addition of a stationary ends 54 and 55 thereto. Inother words, stationary ends 54 and 55 may comprise of adapters whichare sufficiently sized so as to enable one to attach the first andsecond stationary ends to the shafts 64 and 65 by utilizing securingmeans 58 as shown.

Moreover although the stationary ends 54 and 55 are shown as secured tothe first and second stationary shafts 64 and 65 it is possible toinclude appropriate grooves within the shafts 64 and 65 to receiveC-washers that would retain the stationary ends there between.

Typically there is a small gap between the ends of the first and secondstationary ends 54 and 55 and end flange 2A and end flange 2B. Forexample, such gap may be in the vicinity of 0.04 inch although suchexample should not be interpreted as limiting but only as an example.

The invention described herein illustrates a rotatable roller havingcylindrical ends disengaged from the rotational movement of therotational roller.

Various embodiments of the invention have now been described in detail.Since changes in and/or additions to the above-described best mode maybe made without departing from the nature, spirit or scope of theinvention, the invention is not to be limited to said details.

1. A motorized conveyor roller having a rotatable portion and at leastone stationary end.
 2. A motorized conveyor roller as claimed in claim 1wherein said rotatable portion is disposed intermediate to oppositestationary ends.
 3. A motorized conveyor roller as claimed in claim 2wherein said rotatable portion comprises a rotatable displaceable rollertube.
 4. A motorized conveyor roller as claimed in claim 3 wherein saidroller tube includes a motor for rotating said roller tube.
 5. Amotorized conveyor roller as claimed in claim 4 wherein each saidstationary end is axially disposed about a central shaft.
 6. A motorizedconveyor roller as claimed in claim 5 wherein said central shaftcomprises a rotatable shaft portion disposed between said first andsecond spaced stationary shafts.
 7. A motorized conveyor roller asclaimed in claim 6 wherein said first and second stationary shafts carrysaid two stationary ends respectively.
 8. A motorized conveyor roller asclaimed in claim 7 wherein said rotatable shaft portion is carried bysaid motor.
 9. A motorized conveyor roller as claimed in claim 8 whereinone end of said rotatable shaft portion presents a pinion for drivingsaid rotatable roller tube.
 10. A motorized conveyor roller as claimedin claim 9 wherein each of said stationary ends comprise a generallycylindrical surface presenting an outer diameter less than the outerdiameter of said rotatable roller tube.
 11. A motorized conveyor rolleras claimed in claim 10 wherein said outer diameter of said rotatableroller tube is adapted to drive a conveyor belt.
 12. A conveyor systemas claimed in claim 11 wherein said stationary ends bar access to saidrotatable roller tube when said stationary ends are accidentallycontacted.
 13. A motorized conveyor roller for supporting and driving aconveyor medium comprising: (a) a hollow drum defining a rotatablesupporting surface having a cylindrical shape disposed between saidfirst and second generally cylindrical stationary ends; (b) said firstand second generally cylindrical stationary ends co-axially mounted tofirst and second spaced apart stationary shafts respectively; (c) oneend of each of said stationary shafts disposed internally of said hollowdrum for carrying drive means for rotating said hollow drum between saidgenerally cylindrical stationary ends.
 14. A motorized conveyor rolleras claimed in claim 13 wherein said outer surface of said hollow drumpresents an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of each ofsaid generally cylindrical stationary ends.
 15. A motorized conveyorroller as claimed in claim 14 wherein said outer surface of said hollowdrum includes means for increasing the co-efficient of friction betweensaid outer surface of said hollow drum and said conveyor medium.
 16. Amotorized conveyor roller as claimed in claim 15 wherein said motorpresents a rotating shaft co-axially disposed between said stationaryshafts.
 17. A motorized conveyor roller as claimed in claim 16 whereinone end of said rotating shaft includes a pinion for driving gear means.18. A motorized conveyor roller as claimed in claim 17 wherein one endof one of said stationary shafts further includes an internal gearconnected to said hollow drum and engageable with said gear means forrotating said hollow drum.
 19. A motorized conveyor roller as claimed inclaim 18 wherein said stationary ends are secured to said stationaryshafts.
 20. A method of barring axis to a motorized rotatable conveyorroller for driving a conveyor medium by disposing said motorizedrotatable conveyor roller between opposed generally cylindricalstationary ends.